Federal, state and tribal leaders announced more than $30 million in funding for the Sardis Lake Water Authority to construct a new water treatment plant serving southeastern Oklahoma.
Representatives from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board gathered in Durant to announce the investment.
The new facility will increase the authority’s treatment capacity from 1 million gallons of water per day to 3.3 million gallons per day, helping meet future demand and improve service reliability.
The Sardis Lake Water Authority provides water to about 5,500 residents and businesses in Clayton, Nashoba, Pushmataha County Rural Water Districts No. 1 and No. 5, and Latimer County Rural Water District No. 2.
Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton said the project reflects strong cooperation among federal, state and tribal partners to address critical infrastructure needs in rural Oklahoma.
“This $30 million investment in the Sardis Lake Water Authority demonstrates the strength of collaboration among federal, state and tribal leaders to address critical infrastructure needs in rural Oklahoma,” Batton said.
USDA Rural Development Oklahoma State Director Zachary Swartz said the project will help provide a secure and reliable drinking water supply for communities in the Kiamichi Valley for decades to come.
